Saturday, February 14, 2009
fair trade
Some background
Global Exchange is a membership-based international human rights organization dedicated to promoting social, economic and environmental justice around the world.
Fair Trade principles: Producers receive a fair price and a living wage. For commodities, farmers receive a stable, minimum price. Forced labor and exploitative child labor are not allowed. Buyers and producers trade under direct long-term relationships. Sustainable production techniques are encouraged. Working conditions are safe. Equal employment opportunities are provided. All aspects of trade and production are open to public accountability.
Who benefits: The Fair Trade system benefits more than 800,000 farmers organized into cooperatives and unions in 48 countries. Fair Trade has helped farmers provide for their families’ basic needs and invest in community development. But these farmers still sell most of their crop outside the Fair Trade system because not enough companies are buying at Fair Trade prices.
In America: TransFair USA places the “Fair Trade Certified” label on Fair Trade products. This certification ensures that workers are paid fair wages, are free from abusive labor practices and use environmentally sustainable methods.
Equal Exchange: This is part of the International Fair Trade Association, a network of businesses whose primary mission is fairly traded products. Equal Exchange offers tea, coffee, cocoa and chocolate. Other members include Ten Thousand Villages, a network of stores offering fairly traded products; SERRV, which produces a catalog of crafts and food products; and Marketplace Handwork of India, which works with women’s cooperatives producing clothing. Founded in 1986, Equal Exchange trades with 25 small-farmer organizations across Latin America, Africa and Asia.
Partnerships: Equal Exchange has “coffee partnerships” with faith traditions including First Unitarian, Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Church of the Brethren, Mennonite, Presbyterian, United Methodist, United Church of Christ and Quaker organizations. In 2008, some 8,000 congregations were participating. In the Unitarian church, half of its 1,000 congregations participated.
Web sites: Visit www,uua.org and www.globalexchange.org and www.equalexchange for more information. For information on products, visit http://store.gxonlinestore.org.
Sources: www.uuworld.org and www.globalexchange.org